June 1 George Floyd protest news

By Jessie Yeung, Steve George, Nick Thompson, Melissa Macaya, Meg Wagner, Mike Hayes and Daniella Diaz, CNN

Updated 2:10 a.m. ET, June 2, 2020
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1:26 a.m. ET, June 2, 2020

A Kentucky police chief knelt with protesters amid peaceful demonstrations of solidarity

From CNN’s Ganesh Setty

A protester holds a police officer's hand while praying together during a rally to protest the deaths of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor in Lexington, Kentucky, on Sunday, May 31.
A protester holds a police officer's hand while praying together during a rally to protest the deaths of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor in Lexington, Kentucky, on Sunday, May 31. Ryan C. Hermens/Lexington Herald-Leader/AP

As violent clashes between police and protesters erupted Sunday evening, the Kentucky city of Lexington emerged as one notable exception of how the two groups could demonstrate together in solidarity. 

During peaceful protests Sunday evening, Lexington officers clad in riot gear knelt and prayed with protestors, even embracing demonstrators too. The moments of unity were captured on video. 

Following chants from protestors urging officers to kneel with them, Lexington Police Chief Lawrence Weathers first took a knee, according to department spokeswoman Brenna Angel. The chief then told officers they could also kneel if desired, she said. 

“It was a beautiful thing,” Devine Carama, a hip-hop artist, community youth activist and organizer, told CNN. He was on the front line of the peaceful demonstrations Sunday evening. 

“Obviously the protestors were down there to protest police violence and bringing value to black lives. But it was almost as if the police officers in Lexington were showing solidarity with protestors, as opposed to it being a battle. I don’t think that’s what the protestors expected,” he continued.
1:12 a.m. ET, June 2, 2020

Minnesota officials now say no evidence the trucker intentionally drove into protesters Sunday

From CNN’s Andy Rose

People react after a tanker truck drove into a crowd peacefully protesting the death of George Floyd on the I-35W bridge over the Mississippi River on May 31, in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
People react after a tanker truck drove into a crowd peacefully protesting the death of George Floyd on the I-35W bridge over the Mississippi River on May 31, in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Stephen Maturen/Getty Images

Minnesota authorities are now saying a man who drove a tanker truck toward protesters may not have done so intentionally.

What happened: On Sunday, Bogdan Vechirko drove a tanker truck toward a group of protesters on the I-35W bridge near Minneapolis. It doesn't appear anybody was injured. He was subsequently arrested and charged with assault.

On Sunday, Public Safety Commissioner John Harrington's department tweeted that the driver was “inciting a crowd of peaceful demonstrators.”

But Harrington walked it back today, saying, “We don't have any information that makes this seem like this was an intentional act."

Harrington says the state had not yet finished putting up roadblocks when Vechirko was on the freeway. “He saw the crowd, and from what it looked like, panicked,” said Harrington.

Vechirko is being interviewed by investigators, but Department of Corrections Commissioner Paul Schnell says it will be up to the county attorney whether to pursue the case.

Jail records show that Vechirko was still in custody without bail Monday night.

2:10 a.m. ET, June 2, 2020

In Minneapolis, people are leaving tributes and flowers at the site of George Floyd's death

People gather at site where George Floyd died on June 1, in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
People gather at site where George Floyd died on June 1, in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Stephen Maturen/Getty Images

In Minneapolis, the place George Floyd died has become an emotionally charged site of tribute, with hundreds of flowers and messages of condolences left by mourners.

Yesterday, the police said they had found incendiary materials like water bottles filled with gasoline in the area -- but today, it's quiet.

Part of the new calm may be because people are growing tired and disillusioned, or are realizing the impact of looting and destruction -- but more likely, they have taken to heart the message of Terrence Floyd, George's brother.

Terrence spoke to protesters and supporters at the scene today, his first appearance there since his brother's death.

“I understand you all are upset ... (but) if I’m not over here blowing up stuff, if I'm not over here messing up my community, what are y’all doing?” he shouted to the crowd. “That’s not going to bring my brother back at all.” 

Terrence said his family is “peaceful” and “God-fearing,” and that George would not want the protesters to be committing acts of violence or destruction.

“Do this peacefully. Please,” he said.  

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12:46 a.m. ET, June 2, 2020

Democratic governors criticize Trump's call for stronger state response against protests

From CNN’s Andy Rose

The Democratic governors of two western states issued statements Monday night criticizing President Trump’s call for states to crack down harder on violent protests. 

Nevada Gov. Steve Sisolak accused the President of "inciting combativeness, stoking racial tensions, and creating division when we need unity more than ever.” 

In response to the suggestion that the National Guard has been restrained in some states, Gov. Sisolak said, “As the Commander In Chief of the Nevada National Guard I can state, categorically, that they have done their duty to protect all Nevadans, and will continue to do so.”

Washington Gov. Jay Inslee was even more direct in his criticism. In a written statement, Inslee said the President had "repeatedly proven he is incapable of governing," and accused the President of showing "nothing but false bravado throughout the chaos that has accompanied his time in office.” 

“Our country is defined by our collective character and democratic ideals, not by reactionary calls for division and not by threatening Americans with their own military,” added Inslee.
12:34 a.m. ET, June 2, 2020

New York looters seemed "well-organized," said CNN reporter

Most of the protests in New York today were peaceful marches -- but as night fell, there were also increasing instances of property destruction and looting.

The looting appeared remarkably organized at times, said CNN Correspondent Shimon Prokupecz at the scene.

"They would go to stores. They would break the windows. You know, they would use hammers. They would run off. And then, others would come. And then, repeatedly come back," Prokupecz said.

The looting and destruction would serve as a second blow to many of the businesses already suffering from the impact of the coronavirus pandemic, he added. Many of the stores vandalized had already been closed for months, and had been losing money.

"And now, (the stores are) being looted." Prokupecz said. "Everything taken out and now they have to repair the stores, fix the glass."

The citywide curfew: The city's curfew, which went into effect at 11 p.m. tonight, will be extended through tomorrow evening -- but tomorrow night it will be enacted earlier, at 8 p.m. instead.

"The curfew, in the end, is probably too late," Prokupecz said. "They brought in more officers. They doubled the number of officers that were going to be dealing with this today. And that didn't even seem to help."

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12:34 a.m. ET, June 2, 2020

Floyd family's lawyer: The autopsy shows the other officers also contributed to his death

CNN
CNN

Ben Crump, the attorney for George Floyd's family, said the independent autopsy released today shows the other police officers involved were also directly responsible for Floyd's death -- not just former officer Derek Chauvin, who has been charged with third degree murder.

The autopsy: Independent medical examiners hired by Floyd's family said today that the cause of death was asphyxiation due to compression of the neck.

The examiner added that “compression of the back” from other officers who knelt against Floyd’s back also interfered with Floyd’s breathing.  

"Hopefully, (Minnesota) Attorney General Keith Ellison will now consider that as he looks at the other officers," Crump told CNN tonight. "The ambulance was the hearse for George Floyd ... because he was dead at the scene."

"The George Floyd autopsy resulted that he literally was starving for air. He needed a breath. So the Floyd family and I am asking everybody in America: let's take a breath for justice. Let's take a breath for peace. Let's take a breath to heal our country. And let's take a breath for George."

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12:16 a.m. ET, June 2, 2020

Virginia pulled its police out of DC after being put in “compromising position” for Trump's photo op

From CNN's Jeff Zeleny and Austen Bundy

President Donald Trump holds a Bible outside St. John's Church, across Lafayette Park from the White House on June 1 in Washington.
President Donald Trump holds a Bible outside St. John's Church, across Lafayette Park from the White House on June 1 in Washington. Patrick Semansky/AP

Police officers from Virginia's Arlington County, who went to Washington, DC, to provide aid to officers there, were pulled out of the capital after being "put in a compromising position," said the county.

The county said it is also reevaluating its mutual aid agreements.

The "compromising position" refers to an incident Monday evening, during which peaceful protesters just outside the White House gates were dispersed by police with tear gas, flash grenades and rubber bullets.

Shortly after, Trump delivered remarks at the Rose Garden and walked over to St. John's Episcopal Church to take a photo with a Bible.

“At the direction of the County Board, County Manager and Police Chief, all ACPD officers left the District of Columbia at 8:30 tonight. The County is re-evaluating the agreements that allowed our officers to be put in a compromising position that endangered their health and safety, and that of the people around them, for a purpose not worthy of our mutual aid obligations,” the county said in the statement.

Earlier tonight, Arlington County board member Libby Garvey tweeted that she was "appalled mutual aid agreement abused to endanger their and others safety for a photo op.”
12:03 a.m. ET, June 2, 2020

California police are arresting dozens of protesters after curfew in Los Angeles and Oakland

CNN
CNN

In Oakland, California, just east of San Francisco, peaceful protesters are being detained and arrested for being on the streets past the curfew.

Several dozen protesters are now lined up against the wall and being taken into custody, said CNN Correspondent Dan Simon on the scene.

"This follows a very peaceful protest that we saw this afternoon. We saw hundreds of youth throughout Oakland marching throughout the streets. There was a rally at a local high school, then they came downtown," Simon said.

The curfew went into effect at 8 p.m. local time -- about half an hour ago now. It will stay in place until 5 a.m. Tuesday morning.

The mayor on freedom of protest: Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf acknowledged earlier today that there is a painful history of curfews in America used as a form of government oppression -- but that this was about safety and security rather than censorship.

“I want to be clear that this is in no way to quell what we are passionate about and that is free speech and protest,” she said. 

It's not just Oakland: Further south along California, police in Los Angeles are also arresting dozens of protesters who are out after curfew. There is a small crowd being detained in Sunset Boulevard, in the middle of Hollywood, with their hands held by zip ties.

Police officers in squad cars are also shouting out their windows that it was a curfew, and that those still out would be arrested and have their cars impounded.

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12:00 a.m. ET, June 2, 2020

Want to handle the looters? Arrest the police officers, said National Women's March organizer

CNN
CNN

Tamika Mallory, the co-leader of the National Women's March, told CNN tonight that there was an easy solution to get looters and protesters off the streets -- arrest the officers involved in several recent cases of black Americans dying at the hands of the police.

"How I would handle looters? I would arrest the cops," she said.

"(That would) get people off the streets and into their homes, and be able to really determine who may be looters, who may be criminals, and who are actually protestors. But right now, everyone is on the streets together because the police officers who killed George Floyd have not been arrested. The police officers who killed Breonna Taylor haven't been arrested, and the men who killed Ahmaud Arbery, while they have been arrested, they still have not been brought to full justice," she said.

Looting, violence, and vandalism were just "one part of the issue," she added. "The true violence started when a man was killed on camera and yet a week later, we do not have��anything that looks like justice."

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